Four wellexecuted titles which show that, despite his health problems, big mama thornton keeps a real presence on stage. Like the first one, this one seems more directed at parents of babies and toddlers than the. Big mama thornton willie mae thornton, december 11, 1926, montgomery, al july 25. Hound dog night mare, a single by willie mae big mama thornton. In the early 1960s,thornton recorded several songs for baytone records. Thornton, willie mae big mama the handbook of texas. Her best known known record is hound dog, which elvis presley chose, after hearing her version, for his second attempt at a. Thornton was the first who recorded hound dog by leiber and stoller. Jimmy fallon lives in new york city with his wife, nancy, and their two daughters, winnie and franny. Then the book follows her journey into the mecca of texas blues, houston, where big mama thornton met johnny otis, with whom she recorded her greatest. Big mama thornton quotes author of with the muddy waters. Big mama thornton little red rooster lyrics genius lyrics. Shellac 10 willie mae big mama thornton hound dog night mare 1953, shellac discogs. Big mama thornton, who he photographed backstage in manchester on a blues package tour in 1965.
The bside was they call me big mama, and the single sold almost two million copies. She is best known for her gutsy 1952 rhythm and blues recording of hound dog, later covered by elvis presley, and for her original. Willie mae thornton was born on december 11, 1926, in ariton, alabama, usa. Big mama thornton was the original artist to record and claimed she was the composer of the song too the classic tune called hound dog. Big mama thornton posted on november, 2017 by simon robinson heres another great albeit it prerestoration shot from the upcoming book of brian smiths blue photographs. If you want to see big mama thornton singing the blues in her. She was the first to record the hit song hound dog in 1952. Willie mae big mama thornton was an american rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. I am the little red rooster too lazy to crow for day i am the little red rooster too lazy to crow for day keep everything in the farm yard upset in every way. Big mama thornton is associated with the young texan guitarist sherman robertson.
Willie mae thornton december 11, 1926 july 25, 1984, better known as big mama thornton. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our cookie policy. Big mama thornton is the most astounding blues belter there ever was. Willie mae thornton, better known as big mama thornton, was an american rhythmandblues singer and songwriter. Alas, elvis presleys rocking 1956 cover was even bigger, effectively obscuring thorntons chief claim to immortality. Big mama thornton live at the museum of modern art. By the early 40s she was singing and dancing in sammy greens hot harlem revue throughout the southern states.
Like the first one, this one seems more directed at parents of babies and toddlers than the kids themselves its about teaching kids words. Willie mae big mama thornton was described by songwriter jerry stoller as a bit frightening, a force of nature and absolutely magnificent. Albums include hound dog night mare, in europe, and big mama thornton vol. Big mama thornton biography, birth date, birth place and. Her father was a minister, and her mother sang in the church. Big mama thornton was the original artist to record and.
Helping mamas find mental space so that we can be free to enjoy each day and season of motherhood. Hound dog, a song by big mama thornton on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. About the authors michael sporke is a political scientist and author of music biographies. Nov, 2017 big mama thornton posted on november, 2017 by simon robinson heres another great albeit it prerestoration shot from the upcoming book of brian smiths blue photographs. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. Big mama thornton discography, albums and songs mp3 buy at. Willie mae big mama thornton with kansas city bill and orchestra. Willie mae big mama thornton, blues singer and songwriter, was born on december 11, 1926, in montgomery, alabama. Hound dog the peacock recordings by big mama thornton on. Hailing from ariton, alabama, thornton grew up singing gospel music with her family at the church where her father preached. With the end of the sixties, facing a declining interest in the old school blues, the book shows how big mama thornton found her niche in clubs and festivals in the u.
So take a lighthearted look at the world from your babys point of view as different animals. Waldo burgess 18741965, american author, naturalist and conservationist, wrote popular childrens stories including the old mother west wind 1910 series. Willie mae big mama thorntonwillie mae thornton 19261984 was an influential african american blues singer and songwriter whose career extended from the 1940s to the early 1980s. Jimmy fallon, one of the most popular entertainers in the world and nbcs tonight show host, was on a mission with his first childrens book to have every babys first word be dada. Big mama thornton bio, facts, family famous birthdays. The first few minutes are of crowd noise, followed by her band warming up. If you have a threeyearold, theyll love the pictures. The life and music, and is an exhaustively researched and documented about this legendary blues. Big mama thornton, muddy waters, james cotton, otis span. The life and music is certainly a useful reference book, detailing where and when thornton played and recorded and with whom.
And if you have a oneyearold, theyll love how it tastes. Later the same year she released they call me big mama peacock 1621. Her father was a minister, and her mother sang in the church choir. Big mama thornton biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. The daughter of a minister, she and her six siblings began to sing at a very early age. Willie mae big mama thornton december 11, 1926 july 25, 1984 was an american rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. There was a lot of interesting information in the book that i was unaware of. A legal battle began, and the court sided with composers lieber and stoller, thereby keeping big mama thornton from ever receiving any of the sizable royalties the song has accrued through numerous cover versions since her original version was recorded in 1952.
Parents need to know that everything is mama, by the tonight show host jimmy fallon is the followup to his first picture book, your babys first word will be dada. Big mama thornton biography, life, interesting facts. Jul 22, 2014 the book is entitled, big mama thornton. Big mama thornton school boy by big mama thornton lyrics. She was called big mama for both her size and her robust, powerful voice. Music profile for big mama thornton, born 11 december 1926. Big mama thornton quotes author of with the muddy waters blues. Big mama thornton was a transgressor par excellence and a textbook.
She is best known for her gutsy 1952 rhythm and blues recording of hound dog, later covered by elvis presley, and for her original song. Willie mae thornton december 11, 1926 july 25, 1984, better known as big mama thornton, was an american rhythmandblues singer and songwriter. Willie mae big mama thornton only notched one national hit in her lifetime, but it was a true monster. I feel she had one of the greatest voices in american music history, and she does not get near enough attention. Thats a damned shame, because thorntons menacing growl was indeed something. Big mama thornton simple english wikipedia, the free.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. She was the one who recorded hound dog and ball and chain long before elvis presley and janis joplin,and was bitter that others had big. Even if her career had been limited to just two songs, big mama thornton still would be vital part of blues and rock history. The book then follows big mama thornton through the seventies and eighties until her untimely death. Im a little school girl yeeeah im a little school girl and i want those boys i want those boys take me out, yeah and i want my little school. Hound dog, hound dog single version, ball n chain, sweet little angel, im feeling alright, biography. Willie mae thornton was first heard of by many european. Dec 28, 2015 big mama thornton, muddy waters, james cotton, otis span and others 1965 by jim marshall stay safe and healthy. When just a teen, she ran off with sammy greens hot harlem revue in the early 40s, billed as the new bessie smith she moved to houston towards the end of the decade and her blues career. Written by sporke in german and translated into english by big brothers sam andrew as he also did with myth, the book is an engrossing pageturner from beginning to end. Hound dog night mare by willie mae big mama thornton. Audiam publishing, latinautor, umpi, bmi broadcast music inc. Sammy greens hot harlem revue december 11, 1926 montgomery al.
The singles 19511961, hound dog, jail, vanguard visionaries, sassy mama, top tracks. Big mama thornton music, videos, stats, and photos. The story begins with her first musical attempts in the hot harlem revue as a girl of 14. Big mama thornton willie mae thornton, 19261984 was born this day. Although her recording did not appear on the record charts, the song has become one of thornton s bestknown, largely due to performances and recordings by janis joplin. Willie mae thornton was the daughter of a minister and learned drums and harmonica as a child. Two were released on a single, you did me wrong and big mamas blues.
Willie mae big mama thornton and her hound dog blues band perform at the museum of modern arts jazz in the garden series on july 22, 1971. Johnny otis writer, jerry leiber writer, mike stoller writer. According to music writer gillian gaar, thornton also recorded ball and chain for bay tone, although it. Willie mae big mama thornton willie mae thornton 19261984 was an influential african american blues singer and songwriter whose career extended from the 1940s to the early 1980s. Willie mae big mama thornton encyclopedia of alabama. Her introduction to music, as with most fellow blues legends, started in the baptist church. Then the book follows her journey into the mecca of texas blues, houston, where big mama thornton met johnny otis, with whom she recorded her greatest success hound dog more. The life and music, and is an exhaustively researched and documented about this legendary blues pioneer. Basing herself in texas, she made her first records as big mama thornton for peacock in 1951. He would go on to write more than 100 books and thousands of shortstories during his lifetime.
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